Bertram rises to seventh place at 12; Gray was the great protagonist in Givova with 34 points
The eleventh round of Serie A opens with the victory of Tortona, who, with a great team performance and a super Vital, author of 23 points, beat Venezia, 89-82, at home. De Raffaele’s team (great ex of the evening) redeems itself after having experienced a negative period, consisting of only one victory in the last 4 matches. Third knockout (seventh overall) in the last four appearances for Reyer, despite 23 points from Wiltjer. Scafati wins a crazy match at the Beta Ricambi Arena, beating Pistoia, 107-102, after two overtimes. The contribution of Gray (34 points) and Stewart (19) was fundamental. Estra’s crisis doesn’t stop, fifth consecutive defeat, eighth in the entire championship.
TORTONA-VENICE 89-82
—
Excellent start for Venezia, who punishes a dull Bertram, with the transitions of a super Wiltjer and Parks, the work under the boards by Tessitori. After the positive start (12-27 at 10′), Reyer suffered the first of many breaks, which would characterize the second quarter. The Piedmontese start with a 9-0 run, with Weems, Baldasso and Vital. The lagoon players also pick up pace from 3, scoring three triples in a row with Ennis, Kabengele and McGruder, and finding a new +15. Baldasso and Denegri brought the home team closer together, making it 39-48 in the 20th minute. The score of the third quarter is tennis-like, 30-15 for Trontona, who takes control of the match. He did it through a couple of flashes from Severini and a 13-0 run (69-63 at the third siren). De Raffaele’s men continue to circulate the ball well, and finish, first with Denegri and then exploiting the combinations of Kuhse and Kamagate. The orogranata experienced a moment of prolonged disruption in attack, which despite a willing Ennis, forced them to defeat.
Tortona: Vital 23, Kamagate 10, 9 Kuhse
Venice: Wiltjer 23, Ennis 19, McGruder 12
SCAFATI-PISTOIA 107-102 (dts)
—
Great balance at the Beta Ricambi Arena, with Estra doing well in transition with Rowan and Silins, but Givova responding with triples from Miaschi and Cinciarini. Forrest tries to put two possessions between the teams, but Jovanovic (new signing) equalizes. (22 equal to 10′). In the second quarter, the Tuscans are more continuous in attack, with Rowan and Forrest (also reaching +8). At the second buzzer Markovski’s men are ahead 45-38. Upon returning from the break, neither team managed to take control of the match. Gray and Jovanovic take on the offensive responsibilities for Scafati, while Forrest and Christon are the protagonists of Pistoia (69-69 in the 30th minute). The last period respects the script of the rest of the match. It’s still the number 2 from Campania who hurts the guests, who practically only score from the foul line, with Paschall. With just a few seconds to go the Campania team is ahead 82-81, but Stewart makes 1/2 from the line and Forrest, in transition, equalizes (83-83 with less than 6” from the end). Gray misses the game-winning shot. We go to overtime. However, just one overtime is not enough because, after a back-and-forth by Gray-Paschall and Cinciarini’s 2/2 from the line, it is Christon, who scores, from the arc, the 92-92, which is worth the second overtime. In the last 5′ of the match Stewart took responsibility for the Campania team, scoring a jumper and three free throws, which put as many possessions between the teams. It ends 107-102 for Givova.
Scafati: Gray 34, Jovanovic 21, Stewart 19
Pistoia: Silins 26, Forrest 24, Christon 22
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED